Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is undertaking work with the organisation Scratch That which supports people with topical steroid withdrawal reactions.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviewed topical steroid withdrawal and in September 2021 issued advice to inform prescribers and patients of the risks of long term treatment, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-corticosteroids-information-on-the-risk-of-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions

Following the review, patient information leaflets are being amended to add warnings regarding long term use and the development of topical steroid withdrawal. The MHRA has also developed a safety leaflet, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/topical-corticosteroids-and-withdrawal-reactions

While there is no specialist team in the Department or NHS England, the MHRA has published an assessment of topical steroid withdrawal reactions, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions-a-review-of-the-evidence

The MHRA continues to monitor reports received via the Yellow Card Scheme. No specific work has been undertaken with Scratch That.